Method and apparatus for biopolymer synthesis

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for synthesizing biopolymers, such as polypeptides and polynucleotides. The apparatus includes plural reaction vessels in which subunit coupling to biopolymers in a particle suspension is carried out. The vessels are connected to common valving structure for use in mixing the suspension and removing suspension liquid. In one embodiment, a robotic arm in the apparatus is operable to transfer reaction solution to the reaction vessels, and to transfer particle suspensions from the reaction vessels to a mixing vessel and back to the reaction vessels. The method can be used to produce preferably equi-molar amounts of different-sequence biopolymers, such as polypeptides and polynucleotides.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationfor "Controlled Synthesis of Peptide Mixtures Using Mixed Resins," U.S.patent application Ser. No. 523,791, filed May 15, 1990 now U.S. Pat.No. 5,182,366; this application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to method and apparatus for synthesis ofbiopolymers, such as polypeptides and polynucleotides.

REFERENCES

Bidlingmeyer, B. A. et al, in Rivier, J. et al (eds.) Peptides:Chemistry, Structure and Biology (proceedings of the 11th AmericanPeptide Symposium), ESCOM, Leiden, 1990, p.1003.

Cwirla, S. E., et al., Proc Nat Acad Sci, USA, 87:6378 (1990).

Geysen, H. M., et al, Proc Nat Acad Sci USA, 81:3998 (1984).

Houghten, R. A., Proc Nat Acad Sci, USA, 82:5135 (1985).

Kaiser, E. et al, Anal Biochem, 34:595 (1970).

Parmley, S. F., et al, Gene, 73:305 (1988).

Schnorrenberg, G., et al, Tetrahedron, 45:7759 (1989).

Scott, J. K., et al., Science, 249:386 (1990).

Tjoeng, F. S., et al., Int J Pept Prot Res, 35:141 (1990). Tjoeng, F.S., eds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Defined-sequence biopolymers, such as polypeptides and polynucleotides,are routinely synthesized by solid-phase methods in which polymersubunits are added stepwise to a growing polymer chain immobilized on asolid support. The general synthetic procedure can be carried out withcommercially available synthesizers which can construct defined sequencebiopolymers in an automated or semi-automated fashion. Heretofore,however, commercially available synthesizers have been limited by thetotal quantity of polymer which can be synthesized in a singleoperation.

Increasingly, there is an interest in synthesizing biopolymer mixturescontaining different-sequence biopolymers. For example, it is often ofinterest, in examining structure-function relationships in peptides, togenerate a mixture of peptides having different amino acid substitutionsat one or more defined polypeptide residue positions. As anotherexample, polypeptides having a desired activity, such as a high bindingaffinity to a given receptor or antibody, may be identified by (a)generating a large number of random-sequence peptides, and (b) screeningthese peptides to identify one or more peptides having the desiredbinding affinity. Preferably, the polypeptides in the mixture arepresent in substantially equimolar amounts, to maximize the possibilityof detecting any one sequence out of large number of sequences, and inmolar amounts which allow detection of a single sequence.

Although methods have been proposed for synthesizing mixtures ofdifferent-sequence peptides (e.g., Houghton, Geysen), such methods arelimited in both the number and quantity of different sequencepolypeptides which can be synthesized in a single operation, and alsoare relatively expensive to carry out. These limitations have restrictedthe availability of different-sequence peptides, both forstructure-function studies, or for polypeptide selection methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one general object of the invention to provide a method andapparatus for efficient synthesis of biopolymers, such as polypeptidesand polynucleotides, formed by subunit addition to terminal subunitsimmobilized on solid-phase particles.

Another object of the invention is to provide such method and apparatusfor use in synthesizing mixtures of different-sequence biopolymers.

In one aspect, the apparatus of the invention includes a plurality ofreaction vessels in which subunit addition reactions to polymer subunitsimmobilized on solid-phase particles are carried out. The vessels havebottom-portion particle filters which are connected to vacuum andcompressed gas sources by valve structure operable, in a closedcondition, to isolate the vessels from the sources, and, in an opencondition, to communicate the vessels with the gas source, for bubblinggas into the vessels for particle-suspension mixing, or with the vacuumsource, for removing suspension liquid from the vessels. A control unitin the apparatus operates to place the valve structure in selectedconditions for mixing and removing a series of subunit-additionsolutions added sequentially to the vessels.

The reaction vessels are preferably configured in multiple sets ofvessels, and these sets are valved in a configuration which allows valvecontrol over any selected number of reaction vessels.

The apparatus may further include reagent vessels for holding thesolution reagents used in subunit addition, and a transfer deviceoperable to transfer solutions from the reagent vessels to each of thetransfer vessels. The control unit in this apparatus is operable, with asuspension of solid-phase particles in the reaction vessels, to:

(i) activate the valve structure to communicate the vacuum source withthe reaction vessels, to remove liquid in which the solid-phaseparticles are suspended,

(ii) activate the transfer device to transfer solution reagent from aselected reagent vessel to each of the reaction vessels,

(iii) activate the valve structure to communicate the compressed gassource with each reaction vessel, to produce bubbling in each vessel formixing the solid-phase particles with the added reaction solution ineach vessel, and

(iv) repeat steps (i)-(iii) until each reagent solution required forsubunit addition to the subunits immobilized on the particles has beenadded to the vessels.

The apparatus may further include one or more mixing vessels to whichparticle suspensions from the reaction vessels can be transferred, bythe transfer device, for forming a mixed-particle suspension. Aftermixing, the suspension can be distributed, by the transfer device, toselected reaction vessels.

In another aspect, the invention includes an apparatus for use in anautomated mixed-particle method for biopolymer synthesis. The apparatusincludes multiple reaction vessels, preferably constructed as above,reagent vessels, a mixing vessel, and a transfer device for distributinga selected volume of particle suspension in the mixing vessel to each ofthe reaction vessels, for transferring a particle suspension from eachreaction vessel to the mixing vessel, and for transferring selectedreagent solutions from the reagent vessels to the reaction vessels.Operation of the transfer device, for carrying out successivemixed-particle subunit coupling reactions, and for mixing andredistributing particle suspensions, is by a control unit.

The apparatus is designed for an automated method of synthesis of amixture of different-sequence biopolymers. In carrying out the method,the apparatus operates to distribute to each of a plurality of reactionvessels, a particle suspension composed of a suspension of solid-phaseparticles derivatized with particle-bound biopolymer terminal subunits.A selected subunit is then coupled to the particle-bound terminalsubunits in each reaction vessel by successive addition to, reactionwith, and removal of coupling reagent solutions, as above. A suspensionof particles in each reaction vessel is now withdrawn from the reactionvessels, transferred to a mixing vessel, mixed to form a mixed-particlesuspension, and redistributed to separate reaction vessels. The cycle isrepeated until different-sequence biopolymers of a desired length aresynthesized.

In one preferred embodiment, the particles are polystyrene particles,and the suspension solution includes DMF/methylene chloride insubstantially equal volume amounts.

More generally, the invention provides a method of synthesizing amixture of biopolymers having different selected subunits at selectedsubunit positions. In practicing the method, there is formed a particlesuspension composed of a mixture of solid-phase particles derivatizedwith different terminal particle-bound biopolymer subunits. Thissuspension is distributed into a plurality of separate reaction vessels,where a different selected subunit is coupled to the particle-boundterminal subunits in each vessel. After subunit addition, a suspensionof particles from each vessel is mixed and redistributed to separatereaction vessels. The cycle is repeated until the desired length,different-sequence biopolymers are formed.

The method is useful, when applied to polypeptide synthesis, fordetermining the effect of amino acid substitutions at selected residuepositions on a given activity of a known-sequence polypeptide, and forproducing a polypeptide having a selected binding activity to areceptor.

The method is useful, when applied to polynucleotide synthesis, forsynthesizing polynucleotides with random coding sequences. The randomsequences may be selected for expression of a polypeptide having aselected binding activity to a receptor or the like, or for productionof novel peptide therapeutic and diagnostic agents.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become morefully apparent when the following detailed description of the inventionis read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a multi-vessel biopolymer synthesisapparatus constructed according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of fragmentary portions of the FIG. 1apparatus, showing the valve and tubing connections between a solenoidvalve and two reaction vessels;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a reaction vessel in the FIG. 1 apparatusduring a mixing step (3A), and a liquid-removal step (3B);

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a multi-vessel biopolymersynthesis apparatus constructed according to a another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is flow diagram of steps carried out by a control unit in theapparatus shown in FIG. 4, in a programmed operation for amino acidsubunit addition;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a multi-vessel biopolymer synthesisapparatus constructed according to another embodiment of the apparatusof the invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of steps carried out by a control unit in theapparatus of the invention, in a programmed operation for the synthesisof polypeptides having up to M^(N) different sequences;

FIGS. 8A-8G are HPLC chromatographs of single-sequence polypeptidesformed in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates the method of the invention for synthesis ofdifferent-sequence biopolymers, in accordance with the method of theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the amino acid composition of a peptidemixture prepared in accordance with the method of the invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are graphs showing the percent amount of certain aminoacids in pools; and

FIG. 12 illustrates steps in the synthesis and selection of apolynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide with selected bindingactivity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I. Automated Biopolymer SynthesisApparatus

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a biopolymer synthesis apparatus 10constructed according to one embodiment of the invention. The apparatusincludes a plurality of reaction vessels, such as vessels 12a-12f, whichare each connected to a vacuum manifold 14 and to a compressed gasmanifold 16 through valves, such as valves 18a-18d. The apparatus isdesigned for use with a vacuum source 20 and a source 22 of compressedgas, preferably an inert gas such as argon, by connection of the vacuumand gas manifolds with the vacuum and gas sources, respectively, asshown. Each valve is operable between a closed position, in which thevessels connected to the valve are isolated from the vacuum and gassources, and open positions, in which the vessels are in communicationwith the vacuum manifold, in one open position, and with the gasmanifold, in another open position.

In the configuration shown, the vessels are divided into five sets ofvessels, such as sets 24, 26, 28. In four of these sets, each of fivevessels is connected by tubes, such as tubes 30, 32, to a valvemanifold, such as manifold 34, which in turn is connected to a valve,such as valve 18a. Thus, each vessel in the set is coordinatelycommunicated with the vacuum and gas manifold by a single valve. In thefifth set, four of the vessels are connected to individual valves, suchas valve 18d connected to vessels 12d, by a tube, such as tube 36. Theseindividual valves, and the fifth vessel in this set, are connected to avalve manifold 38 connected to valve 18c, which thus functions as amaster valve for the vessels in this set.

It will be appreciated that the valve configuration just describedallows active valve control, by a relatively small number of valves,over any selected number of vessels in the apparatus. Thus, for example,a single vessel 12f can be placed under individual control of valve 18c,with all of the other valves placed in a closed position. Similarly anynumber of vessels up to five can be placed under control of valve 18c,and one of the individual-control valves, such as valve 12e. (Only foursuch individually controlled vessels are needed, since five vessels canbe controlled by a single valve in one of the other vessel sets.Further, two of these four could be placed under control of a singlevalve, and still allow control of 1-4 vessels). For five or morevessels, one or more of the five-vessel sets are employed and anyindividual vessels in the fifth set.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus, showing reactionvessels 12a and 12b, and their connection to valve 18a. The valves andvessels in the apparatus are carried on a platform 40 which has an arrayof threaded openings, such as opening 42a, 42b, 42c, for valve andvessel mounting. Vessel 12a, which is representative, is removablymounted on a Luer-Lok™-type bulk-head fitting 44 which itself isthreadedly received in the upper side of opening 42a. A tube fitting 46is received in the lower side of the opening, as shown. Tube 30, whichconnects vessel 12a to valve 18a, is received through the two fittingsand held tightly therein. An exemplary Teflon Luer-Lok™ fitting, and anexemplary Teflon tube fitting for use with a 1/16" Teflon™ connectingtube are available from Cole-Parmer (Chicago, Ill.).

Connecting tube 30, which is representative, has an upper looped portion48 which extends above the height of liquid added to vessel 12a duringapparatus operation. This height is indicated by the mark 50 on vessel12a. The tube upper portion acts as a trap to prevent liquid in thevessel from draining into the valve, except when the valve connects thevessel to the vacuum manifold. The trap also preventscross-contamination between reaction vessels.

Vessel 12a, which is representative, has a base 52 which is designed forsealed, removable attachment to fitting 44, conventionally. A filter 54located in the bottom portion of the vessel is effective to filtersolid-phase particles used in biopolymer synthesis reactions describedbelow. Typically, the particles are resin or glass beads havingdiameters between about 30 and 150 microns. The vessel capacity can beselected according to desired reaction volume, e.g., 10-50 ml. Oneexemplary vessel is a 18 ml glass tube having 20 micron pore-sizepolyethylene filter, and commercially available from Kontes (Vineland,N.J.). The reaction tubes may be formed with side wall bulges (notshown) in order to enhance turbulent mixing without bubble formation.

Valve 18a is mounted on platform 40 by an adapter 56 which engages athreaded opening 58 in the valve, as shown, and itself provides athreaded socket 60 in which manifold 34 (FIG. 1) is received. Themanifold is a 5 to 1 connector which provides five tube channels, suchas channel 59, in which the ends of the associated tubes, such as tube30, are snugly received, when the manifold is tightened in the adapter.The tube channels are preferably arrayed at points equidistant from oneanother and from the center of the manifold. An exemplary adapter is a1/4" NPT female pipe adapter available from Cole-Parmer. The lower endof manifold is connected to the interior of the valve by a tube 62.

Valve 18a, which is representative, is a solenoid valve controllable bydigital input signals between closed and open positions or conditions,indicated above. The valve in its closed position isolates the valvemanifold from the gas and the vacuum manifolds, and in one and anotheropen positions, communicates the valve manifold with either the vacuummanifold or the gas manifold. The valve receives fittings 64, 66 fortube connections to the vacuum and gas manifolds, respectively, asshown. Valves, such as valve 18a, the valve manifolds, such as manifold34, and the tubes, such as tube 30 connected the valve manifold to thevessels, are also referred to herein valve means for communicating thevessels selectively with the vacuum and gas manifolds.

The operation of the apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B.Initially, the control unit in the apparatus i set to act on a selectednumber of reaction vessels, over a selected number of reaction cycles,and at specified reaction times in each cycle. These settings determinewhich of the vessels will be placed in an active state for successivereaction mixing and liquid removing, the sequence of valve actuations,and the times between successive valve actuations. In a typicalbiopolymer synthesis operation, solid-phase particles derivatized withend-protected subunits are added to a selected group of reactionvessels. In the synthesis operation, a series of different reagentsolutions, identified below, is added sequentially to each of theselected vessels, with each solution being mixed with solid-phasereaction particles in the vessels for a selected reaction period, thenremoved from the vessels by filtration, before addition of the nextsolution.

In the mixing step, illustrated in FIG. 3A for a representative reactionvessel 70, the selected vessels are communicated with the gas source, asdescribed above. Gas influx through the vessel filters produces acontrolled bubbling action which keeps solid-phase particles, such asindicated at 72, in an agitated, suspended state in a reagent solution74, as shown. After a preset mixing period, the controlling valve(s) areswitched to positions communicating the vessels with the vacuum source,causing the suspension liquid to be filtered from the vessel, asillustrated in FIG. 3B. After filtration, new reagent solution is addedto the selected vessels, and the mixing and liquid-removal steps arerepeated.

It is noted here that when the control valves are in a closed position,with liquid in the vessels, the upper trap portion of the tubesconnecting the vessels to the valves prevent liquid from draining intothe valves. It is also noted that the control unit operates tocommunicate only the particle-containing vessels with the gas and vacuummanifolds during operation.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of an apparatus 76 like the one justdescribed, but provided with automated transfer means for adding reagentsolutions successively to selected reaction vessels during a biopolymersynthesis reaction. The apparatus includes reaction vessels, such asvessels 78, which are configured in five-vessel sets, such as set 80,and controlled by valves, such as valve 82, as described above, forcommunication with vacuum and gas sources 84, 86, respectively, throughgas and vacuum manifold, respectively. The valves are controlled by amicroprocessor control unit 88, as described above.

The apparatus additionally includes a plurality of reagent vessels, suchas vessels 90, 92, 94, and 96 for holding reagent solutions used inbiopolymer synthesis. The reagent vessels are of two types: the firsttype, represented by vessels 90, 92, are designed for liquid dispensing,under pressure, by a solenoid valve, such as valve 95 associated withvessel 91. The vessels are pressurized by compressed gas from source 86,through a compressed line 91, as indicated. Valve 95, which isrepresentative, is connected in-line to a dispenser tube 96 extendingfrom vessel 91 to a delivery unit 110 to be described below. The tubemay also include an in-line needle valve (not shown) for controllingrate of liquid flow through the tube. In a dispensing operation, thevalve is opened for a timed interval, for dispensing a given volume ofreagent solution from the vessel through the dispensing tube. Thereagent vessels just described are used in dispensing various reagentsolutions to the reaction vessels, in the operation of the apparatusdescribed below.

The second type of reagent vessels, represented by vessels 94, 96,contain solutions of the selected sub-units used in biopolymersynthesis. For example, when the apparatus is used for polypeptidesynthesis, these reaction vessels are used to hold the individual aminoacids used for the synthesis. The subunit-solution reagent vessels areattached to the platform in the apparatus at fixed locations. When theapparatus is used for polynucleotide synthesis, the reaction vessels areused to hold individual activated nucleotide monomers, such asphosphoramidated nucleotides.

Also included in the apparatus is a robotic device 100 which isoperable, under the control of unit 88, to transfer preselected volumesof solution from the solution vessels to a selected group of reactionvessels. The device has an extendable/retractable arm 102 which cancarry one of a number of selected delivery units, such as units 104, 106which are shown stored at pick-up station, such as station 108, on theplatform, and unit 110 which is shown engaged at the end of arm 102. Theunit 110 attached to arm 102 in FIG. 4 is a spigot unit which carriesthe ends of tubes, such as tube 98, from the reaction-solution vesselsdescribed above. One of the other units in the transfer device is apipette unit which is designed for automated operation to (a) pick up adisposable pipette tip, (b) withdraw a selected volume of liquid fromone vessel, (c) dispense the withdrawn liquid into another vessel, and(d) eject the pipette tip.

The robotic arm is mounted on a head 109 which is rotatable about anaxis 111, and which is movable in a vertical direction along this axisfor raising and lowering the arm. The distal end of the arm is designedfor pick up and release of a selected delivery unit from station 108.

One preferred type of robotic device is a Zymate II Plus robot suppliedcommercially from Zymark Corp Hopkinton, Mass.). The delivery unit usedin the apparatus is a Zymark "general purpose" hand which has twofingers which are capable of grabbing an appropriate spigot assembly andcarrying it to reaction-vessel tubes, such as tube 98. Other units usedin the apparatus are a Zymark 1-4 ml pipetting hand and a Zymark 0.2 to1 ml pipetting hand. The robotic arm and associated delivery units arealso referred to herein as a transfer device, or transfer means.

The control unit in the apparatus is a microprocessor which isprogrammed to actuate the control valves, and to direct the operation ofthe robotic arm according to user-specified settings. The design of themicroprocessor program, and the requirements of the user interface, willbe clear from the operation of the apparatus in biopolymer synthesis, asfollows.

The operation of the apparatus involves a predetermined sequence ofsolution cycles which together constitute a subunit-addition cycle, anda predetermined number of such subunit-addition cycles, each adding anew subunit to the growing particle-bound biopolymer in the reactionvessels. Initially, the user sets the control unit to specify thefollowing subunit-cycle parameters: (a) the selected reaction vesselsused in the operation, (b) the sequence of solution cycles (specified interms of solution vessel positions), (c) the volumes of reagentsolutions added to the reaction vessels in the subunit-addition, and (d)the mixing times at each cycle. The delivery subunit which is to be usedin each solution cycle is dictated by the selected solution vessel. Forexample, the spigot unit in the embodiment described with respect toFIG. 6 is employed for all solution additions, except for the subunitand activating reagent solutions, which are added by a pipette unit.Also specified is the subunit sequence for each reaction vessel.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the steps in a complete subunit-additioncycle for use in amino acid subunit addition in polypeptide synthesis.In the first solution cycle (Cy=1), the control unit operates first toactuate valves for draining suspension fluid the designated vessels, bysuccessive valve opening and closing. The robotic arm is now actuated totransfer deprotection solution, by successive arm movement to each ofthe designated reaction vessels, and dispenser actuation for solutiondelivery. After returning the arm to a parked position, the control unitoperates to connect the reaction vessels with the gas source, forparticle-suspension mixing as described above. The solution cycleterminates with closure of the valves. The operation now cycles througheach successive reagent solution cycle, sequentially exposing theparticles in the designated reaction vessels to a wash solution (cycle2), a solution of a selected amino acid, plus a coupling reagentsolution (cycle 3), a rinse solution (cycle 4), and a capping solution,to cap unreacted, deprotected subunits on the particle-bound subunits(cycle 5), as indicated.

After completion of one complete subunit addition cycle, the apparatusrepeats the above steps, for addition of the next subunit Lo theparticle-bound biopolymers. These subunit-addition cycles are repeated,adding a selected subunit to each polymer in a given reaction vessel,until biopolymer synthesis in each vessel is complete.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus 112 constructed accordingto another embodiment of the invention, for use in synthesis ofbiopolymers having mixed sequences, as described below in Section II.The apparatus includes plural reaction vessels, such as vessels 114, 116mounted at fixed positions on a platform 118, and connected to gas andvacuum manifolds 117, 119, respectively, through valves, such as valve122. The apparatus is designed for use with gas and vacuum sources 121,123 by connection of the sources to manifolds 117, 119, respectively.The design and operation of the valved vessel configuration is similarto that described with respect to apparatus 10 above.

Also included in the apparatus are multiple reagent vessels, such asvessels 126, 128, for holding the different reagents needed in subunitaddition synthesis. Selected reagent vessels are connected tosolenoid-driven dispensers (not shown), as described with reference toFIG. 4, for dispensing measured liquid amounts to the reaction vessels.The apparatus further includes one or more mixing vessels, such asvessel 130, mounted at fixed positions on platform 118. Each vesselpreferably has a volume capacity sufficient to hold the combinedsuspension contents of all of the reaction vessels.

Vessel 130, which is representative, has a bottom-portion frit or filter132, through which compressed gas can be bubbled into the vessel forparticle-suspension mixing in the vessel, and vacuum applied to thevessel, for removing liquid from the vessel. To this end, the vessel isconnected to the gas and vacuum manifolds 117, 119, through a solenoidvalve 133, as indicated.

Also included in the apparatus is a robotic transfer device 134, ormeans having an extendable arm 136 mounted on a swingable, verticallypositionable base, as described above. The distal end of the transferdevice is designed to operate with one of a variety of delivery units,such as unit 140 shown attached to the arm, and unit 142 stored on theplatform. The transfer device, including the delivery units used fortransferring liquid from the solution vessels to designated reactionvessels, are similar to device 100 described above.

The valves and robotic device in the apparatus are under the control ofa microprocessor control unit 144. The software instructions used inunit, and the requirements of the user interface, are similar to thosedescribed with respect to apparatus 100, with the following addedoperations which will be described with reference to the flow diagram inFIG. 7.

The FIG. 7 operation illustrates apparatus steps for automated synthesisof polypeptides having up to M different amino acids at each of Rresidues. That is, the final polypeptide mixture may include up to M^(R)different-sequence polypeptides. Initially, particles with bound,N-protected amino acids are added to each of M reaction vessels. Theparticles added to each reaction vessel preferably contain an equimolarmixture of M different N-protected amino acids. The control unit isinitialized as above, and additionally to set the desiredparticle-mixing cycles, as will be seen.

With the subunit-addition cycle set to 1, the control unit directs thesequence of valve, dispenser, and transfer-device operations in asubunit-addition cycle, i.e., a sequence of solution cycles, asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 5. With each subunit additioncycle, an additional subunit is added to the end-terminal particle-boundsubunits, typically one of M different amino acids in each reactionvessel.

At the end of the first subunit addition cycle, the control unit directsthe robotic device in a series of operations which result in thetransfer of the particle suspension in each reaction vessel to a mixingvessel. These operations direct the robotic device to (a) attach apipette unit to the robotic arm; (b) pick up a fresh pipette tip, (c)move to a selected reaction vessel, (d) withdraw the particle suspensionfrom that reaction vessel, (e) move to a mixing vessel, (f) dispense thewithdrawn suspension into the mixing vessel, and (g) repeat steps(c)-(f) until all of the particle suspensions have been withdrawn. Thisis followed by addition of a given volume of fresh suspension liquid toeach reaction vessel, with mixing to suspend residual particles in thevessel, followed by one or more additional suspension transfers from thereaction vessels to the mixing vessel, until essentially all of theresin particles have been transferred from the reaction vessels.

The control unit now actuates the mixing vessel valve to removesuspension fluid, directs the robotic arm to add fresh suspensionsolution to the mixing vessel, and actuates the mixing valve to producemixing of the particles in the freshly added solution. The liquid levelin the mixing vessel is brought to the exact necessary volume under thecontrol of a liquid-level sensor (not shown) attached to the vessel.

At the end of this mixing step, the robotic device is directed in aseries of operations which result in distribution of the mixing vesselcontents back to the individual reaction vessels. Here the control unitdirects the robotic device to (a) attach a pipette unit to the roboticarm; (b) pick up a fresh pipette tip, (c) move to the mixing vessel, (d)withdraw an aliquot of the particle suspension from the mixing vessel,(e) move to a selected reaction vessel, (f) dispense the withdrawnsuspension into the reaction vessel, and (g) repeat steps (c)-(f) untilthe particle suspension in the mixing vessel has been distributed toeach of the selected reaction vessels.

The apparatus has now returned to its original condition, with eachreaction vessel containing a mixture of N-protected, particle-boundsubunits. The entire cycle is repeated R-1 times until all R residuesare added.

The maximum number of different-sequence peptides that can be formed inthe apparatus will be limited by the number of resin particles which theapparatus can accommodate in both the mixing and reaction vessels.Typical polystyrene resin particles useful for polypeptide synthesishave a particle diameter of about 40 microns, and a 1 ml suspension canaccommodate at most about 10⁷ such particles. Employing 50 ml of aparticle suspension, about 900 mg of polypeptide can be synthesized.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated how various objects andfeatures of the apparatus invention are met. The multi-vessel apparatusdescribed with respect to FIG. 1 allows for large-scale, simultaneoussynthesis of up to 20 or more different biopolymers, with automaticallytimed mixing and solution removal after addition of each solvent. Forexample, employing 18 ml reaction vessels, it is possible to synthesizeup to about 300 mg polypeptide per vessel in the apparatus.

The apparatus described with respect to FIG. 4 provides the sameadvantages, and additionally, a completely automated operation forbiopolymer synthesis. According to one advantage of the apparatus,particle mixing during the subunit coupling step in the several reactionvessels can be timed so as to ensure substantially complete subunitaddition in all of the vessels. Further, based on known coupling ratesfor each pair of amino acids, the control unit can operate to provideminimum coupling times needed at each reaction step to ensure completesubunit addition in each reaction vessel.

FIGS. 8A-8G are HPLC chromatograms of seven gramicidin S peptide analogsformed by the apparatus described in FIG. 4. Briefly, resin derivatizedwith arginine (R-Mts) was added to each of seven reaction vessels, andsuccessive subunit additions were employed to add: valine at the firstcycle; proline at the second cycle; d-phenylalanine or d-alanine at thethird cycle; leucine or d-alanine at the fourth cycle; leucine orphenylalanine at the fifth cycle; valine at the sixth cycle; proline atthe seventh cycle; d-phenylalanine, d-alanine, or serine at the eighthcycle; and leucine or alanine at the ninth cycle, as indicated in thefigure. As seen from the figure, substantially pure polypeptide wasformed in each reaction vessel. Amino acid analysis of the sevenpeptides confirmed the amino acid composition.

The apparatus described with respect to FIG. 6 provides, in addition tothe features described above, operation for automated synthesis ofequimolar amounts of mixed-sequence biopolymers having differentsequences, in accordance with the biopolymer synthesis method disclosedin Section II below. As will be appreciated from Section II, theoperation of the apparatus can be preset for synthesis of anycombination of sequences having up M^(R) different sequences, and inpreselected molar ratios.

Although the operation of the apparatus has been illustrated withrespect to polypeptide synthesis, it will be appreciated that theapparatus is intended for automated synthesis of other biopolymers, suchas polynucleotides, which are constructed by subunit addition toend-protected subunits carried on a solid-phase particle. The use of theapparatus for automated mixed-sequence polynucleotides will be describedin Section II below.

II. Automated Mixed-Particle Biopolymer Synthesis Method

The apparatus of the invention may be used for synthesizingdifferent-sequence biopolymers, in accordance with another aspect of theinvention. The mixed-resin synthesis method will be described withparticular reference to apparatus 112 illustrated in FIG. 6, which hasthe following features required for the method:

(a) a mixing vessel, such as vessel 132,

(b) multiple reaction vessels, such as vessels 116,

(c) reagent vessels, such as vessels 126, 128,

(d) transfer means for distributing a selected volume of particlesuspension in the mixing vessel to each of the reaction vessels, fortransferring a particle suspension from each reaction vessel to themixing vessel, and for transferring selected reagent solutions from thereagent vessels to the reaction vessels,

(e) means for coupling a selected free subunit to the terminal, particlebound subunits in each of the reaction vessels, and

(e) control means for controlling the operation of the transfer meansand coupling means.

The method employs solid-phase particles, such as polystyrene spheres,which are suitable for solid-phase biopolymer synthesis. In a typicalmethod, batches of particles are derivatized with a selectedend-protected biopolymer subunit, such as an N-protected amino acid, ora 5'--OH protected nucleotide, according to conventional derivatizationmethods. In the method illustrated in FIG. 9, five different batches ofresin particles, indicated by solid squares, are derivatized with fivedifferent N-protected amino acids: glycine (G), lysine (K), glutamicacid (E), phenylalanine (F), and serine (S). The N-protected amino acidsderivatized to the particles are also referred to herein as terminal,N-protected subunits.

The batches are combined in equimolar portions, i.e., in portionscontaining equimolar amounts of the terminal subunits derivatized on theparticles. In the FIG. 9 example, this produces a mixture of particleshaving equimolar amounts of coupled G, K, E, F, and S N-protectedsubunits. The mixed particles are suspended in a suitable suspensionliquid to form a particle-suspension mixture, indicated by "M" linked toa solid square in FIG. 9. Preferably the particles are suspended, asdiscussed above, by introducing an inert gas from the bottom of thevessel.

As indicated above, a preferred suspension liquid for polypeptidesynthesis polystyrene particles is a 1:1 mixture of DMF and methylenechloride. This liquid, being substantially isopycnic with polystyrenespheres, forms a particle suspension which is stable against particlesettling, i.e., the suspension has a stable, substantially uniformparticle density.

The particle-suspension mixture is now distributed in preferably equalvolume amounts to each of a selected number of reaction vessels in theapparatus. Because of the uniform particle density of the suspension,this results in substantially equimolar amounts particle-bound, terminalsubunits being added to each vessel.

Typically, the particle mixture is distributed into a separate reactionvessel for each different subunit which is to be added at thenext-in-sequence residue position. In the FIG. 9 example, it is desiredto couple five different selected amino acids onto the terminal subunitsof the mixed particles; thus the mixture is distributed equally intofive different reaction vessels. The initial distribution of particlesuspension may be by hand or by automated transfer from a mixing vessel,as described in Section I.

In the next step of the method, the apparatus is operated to couple aselected subunit to the terminal subunits on the mixed particles in eachof the selected reaction vessels. For amino acid coupling, the apparatusoperates, as described above, to successively react the particles with(a) a deprotection solution, (b) a wash solution, (c) a selected aminoacid plus a coupling agent, and (d) a capping reagent.

These reagents are delivered successively to a each reaction vessel bythe transfer means, followed by valve actuation to the reaction vesselsfor bubbling and liquid removal, as described above. Reagents suitablefor polynucleotide coupling are given in Section III.

In the FIG. 9 example, the mixed particles are reacted with one of thesame five amino acids G, K, E, F, and S. Since each amino acid iscoupled to each of five different terminal, particle-bound subunits,each reaction vessel now contains five different dipeptides.

As indicated above, the subunit coupling reaction is preferably carriedout for a period sufficient to allow the slowest of the subunit additionreactions to run to completion. This ensures that all of the dimersformed by the reaction are represented in substantially equimolaramounts on the particles.

Following the completion of the first subunit-addition cycle, theparticles in each reaction vessel are resuspended in a suitablesuspension medium, and transferred by the transfer means to a commonmixing vessel, for particle mixing. The mixture produced in the FIG. 9example is indicated by "MM" linked to a solid square, and includesparticles derivatized with one of 5² dipeptides. The mixture is nowredistributed by the transfer means into each of a selected number ofreaction vessels, followed by coupling a new selected subunit onto theterminal particle-bound subunits, as above. In the FIG. 9 example, thesame five amino acids are coupled to the particle-bound dipeptides,yielding 25 different-sequence tripeptides in each reaction vessel. Theparticles in each reaction vessel are again resuspended, transferred toa common mixing vessel, and mixed to form a particle mixture derivatizedwith 5³ different tripeptides, preferably in substantially equimolaramounts.

The distributing, coupling, and mixing steps are repeated untilbiopolymers of a desired number of subunits are formed on the particles.Thereafter, the particle-bound subunits may be deprotected or otherwiseprocessed, and released from the particles according to conventionalmethods.

The method just described with reference to FIG. 9 illustrates themethod of automated synthesis of up to M^(R) different sequences, whereup to M different residues are coupled to a mixed resin at each couplingcycle, and the coupling cycle is repeated R-1 times. It will beappreciated that the automated method can be varied, by suitable controlunit instructions, to carry out synthesis with variations of theprocedure. For example, in some coupling cycles, the same amino acid maybe added to all reaction vessels, to produce invariant residuepositions. Further, the number of reaction vessels employed may varyfrom cycle to cycle, where it is desired to achieve different degrees ofvariability at each residue position For example, at one cycle only fiveamino acid variations may be desired, and at another, all 20 variations.

III. Mixed-Particle Biopolymer Synthesis Method

This section describes more general aspects of the mixed-particlebiopolymer synthesis method, and applications of the method topolypeptide and polynucleotide biosynthesis. The method includes thebasic steps of: forming a particle-suspension mixture composed of asuspension of solid-phase particles derivatized with different terminalparticle-bound biopolymer subunits; distributing the mixture into aplurality of separate reaction vessels; coupling a different selectedsubunit to the particle-bound terminal subunits in each reaction vessel;and mixing the suspensions from the plural reaction vessels to form anew particle suspension mixture. The distributing, coupling, and mixingsteps are repeated at each biopolymer residue position where subunitvariation is desired.

In one preferred embodiment, approximately equimolar amounts of thedifferent-sequence biopolymers are generated, at each subunit additionstep. This is accomplished by (a) adding approximately equimolar amountsof particle-bound biopolymer chain to each reaction vessel, and (b)carrying out the subunit addition reaction substantially to completionin each reaction vessel. As indicated above, the first of theseconditions can be met by adding substantially equal volumes of a uniformparticle density suspension to each reaction vessel.

The second condition is met by adding excess free subunits and employingreaction times (and temperatures) which lead to complete subunitaddition of the slowest of the subunit addition reaction. Thus, forexample, in synthesizing a polypeptide, where different amino acidsubunits are added to each of several different reaction vessels, andwhere each of the 400 possible amino acid-to amino acid couplings isexpected to have its own characteristic coupling rate, each vessel isallowed to react for a time sufficient to allow the slowestsubunit-to-subunit combination in the reaction vessels to reachcompletion.

Also in a preferred embodiment, the amount of each different-sequencebiopolymer which is synthesized is sufficient to allow eachdifferent-sequence biopolymer to be analyzed for a selected property. Inthe case of polypeptides, this activity is typically a binding affinitymeasured with respect to a selected receptor molecule or antibody. Otheractivities which can be selected include enzyme inhibition, enzymatic orcofactor activity, membrane binding or translocation, nucleic acidbinding, and the like. Where the polypeptide analysis is conductedsolution-phase biopolymers, after release from the solid-phaseparticles, the amount must further be sufficient for analysis andretrieval in non-particle form. Typically, the method is carried outunder conditions which produce at least about 100 pmoles of eachdifferent-sequence polypeptide, as discussed below.

In the case of polynucleotides, the activity of interest may involve theuse of the different-sequence polynucleotides as primers, forhybridization, or as coding sequences in a suitable expression system,as discussed below. In the latter application, it will be appreciated,the molar amount of each different sequence polynucleotide can be quitesmall, e.g., in the picomolar range. Other activities include, forexample, ribozyme and ribozyme-like activity, protein-binding activity,and the like.

IIIA. Polypeptide Synthesis Methods

In one general application, the method is employed for generatingdifferent-sequence polypeptides which can be used for structure-functionanalysis of polypeptides (or proteins) with known amino acid sequences.The peptide of interest may be an antigenic peptide, a peptide hormone,or an antibiotic peptide, such as gramicidin or valinomycin. Typically,in structure-function studies, it is desired to determine the effect onactivity of one of a variety of amino acid substitutions at one or moreselected residue positions. Usually, the residue positions of interestare those which are semi-conserved or non-conserved in a family ofanalogous peptides.

By way of example, gramicidin S is an open-chain peptide having theprimary structure:

1-Val(NHCHO)-d-Gly-1-Ala-d-Leu-1-Ala-d-Val-1-Val-d-Val-1-Trp-d-Leu-1-Trp-d-Leu-1-Trp(CONH(CH₂)₂OH).

In structure-function studies, it may be of interest to determine theeffect of all possible amino acid substitutions at the two d-Valpositions. To produce the desired peptide analogs, particles arederivatized with the N-terminal pentapeptide1-Val-d-Gly-1-Leu-d-Val-1-Ala, by conventional means. The particles arethen distributed in equimolar amounts to each of 20 reaction vessels,and coupled separately to the 20 d-amino acids. After coupling, theparticle suspensions are pooled and then reacted, either in separatereaction vessels or in a single vessel, with an 1-Val subunit, toproduce a heptapeptide having 20 different amino acid combinations atthe 6-residue position, and a Val at the 7-position residue.

The particles from above are mixed and redistributed to each of 20different reaction vessels, where 20 different d-amino acids are coupledto the terminal subunits on the particles. The resulting octapeptideshave 20 different amino acid combinations at the 6-residue position, asingle Val at the 7-position residue, and 20 different amino acidcombinations at the 8-position (N terminal) residue, and thus constitutea total of 400 different-sequence peptides. The peptides may becompleted by conventional synthesis in which the final seven residuesare coupled to the peptides batchwise.

After release of the peptides, and suitable N- or C-terminalmodification, the peptides in each of the 20 reaction vessels are testedfor antibiotic and/or ion transport activity, using standard assays.Each peptide tested has a common 8-position d-Val substitution and all20 6-position d-Val substitutions. After systematically ranking theactivities of the 20 groups, a new group of peptides which differ onlyat the 6-position, and have a selected 8-position substitution) can besynthesized, as above, for further structure-function studies.

It will be appreciated that the method provides a rapid and systematicmethod for generating large numbers of peptide analogs containingdesired substitutions at selected residue positions.

In another general application, the synthesis method is used to generaterandom-sequence polypeptides for selecting peptides with desiredactivity, typically binding activity to a known receptor, such as anantibody. The method may be used to generate every possible combinationof 20 different acids (which may be L-amino acids, D-amino acids or D-or L-amino acid analogs) at each R residue position. The solid-phaseparticles in this method are preferably formed from a mixture ofparticles, each containing one of the 20 possible L-amino acids, inequimolar amounts. This mixture is distributed to each of 20 reactionvessels, for addition of one of the 20 L-amino acid subunits to eachparticle mixture. After subunit addition, the particles are combined andredistributed to 20 reaction vessels, for addition of the third aminoacid. The procedure is repeated R-1 times for synthesis of the desiredR-residue polypeptides.

The peptides will contain 400 members if the peptide is a dipeptide;8,000 members, if a tetrapeptide; 160,000 members, if a tripeptide, andso forth. The mixtures, in order to be subjected to procedures forselection and analysis, must provide enough of each member to meet therequirements for selection and analysis. Typically, about 100 picomolesof a peptide are needed in order to select the peptide and to analyzeits primary structure. The total amount of protein mixture required toproduce 100 picomoles of each peptide can be readily calculated, andcorresponds approximately to 2.2 μg for 400 dimers, 0.44 mg for 8,000trimers, 8.8. mg for 160K tetramers, 176 mg for 3.2 million pentamers,and 3.5 g for 64 million hexamers. Thus, even for a peptide of 6 aminoacids, only about 3.5 g of total mixture is required. Since manyimmunoreactive peptide species are 5-6 amino acids in length, it can beappreciated that the method is suitable for generating "mimetopes" whichare immunoreactive with selected receptors, such as antibodies. Thismethod is feasible even for larger peptides, when conserved regions,i.e., positions with fixed amino acids, are present.

By way of example, the synthesis of the following peptide mixture isdescribed: Fifty nmoles of each of the 5 amino acid resins, Asp, His,Gln, Phe, and Leu were weighed out based on their substitution, mixed asa thin slurry in DMF (approximately 1 g/40 ml) and shaken by vortexingfor 1 hr, followed by washing with methylene chloride (approx. 100 ml)and drying under vacuum. The resin mix was then distributed equally into5 reaction vessels.

The Fmoc-N-protected amino acids attached to the particles weredeprotected by incubation with 20% piperidine in DMF (2×3 ml, for 10 mineach), followed by extensive washing (3×3 ml of DMF, followed by 3×3 mlof methanol, and 3×3 ml DMF). To each reaction vessel was added 0.25mmoles of activated amino acid. For ease of synthesis, the activatedamino acids were added as preformed pentafluorophenyl esters (OPfpesters), except for serine and threonine, which were added as thepreformed 3-hydroxy-4-oxo-3,4-dihydrobenzotriazine esters (ODHBtesters). 0.2 ml of 0.5M HOBt in DMF was added to each coupling reaction.The reactions were allowed to proceed for 2 hrs. Excess amino acid wasaspirated away, and the resin washed with DMF (3×3 ml) followed bymethanol 3×3 ml). The completeness of each of the coupling reactions wasverified by qualitative ninhydrin (triketohydrine hydrate) which, ifnegative, indicates greater than 99% coupling (Kaiser).

The particles were then recombined, swollen in DMF and mixed asdescribed above. In cycles 2 and 4, which required mixtures, the resinswere again split and treated as described above, with the appropriateamino acids coupled. At position 3, a single amino acid, glycine, wasdesired. The particles were combined and glycine was coupled to theentire particle mixture in a single reaction. Characterization by aminoacid analysis (Bidling-meyer) of the final peptide product or thepeptide mixture described above shows the peptide to have the amino acidcomposition shown in FIG. 10. It can be seen that all of the aminoacids, with the exception of glycine, are present in substantiallyequimolar amounts, indicating synthesis of a substantially equimolarmixture of polypeptides. Glycine, as predicted, is present in a 5 foldgreater amount than the other amino acids. Tyrosine appears somewhatlow, possibly due to tyrosine oxidation during hydrolysis.

A second set of peptide mixtures was similarly synthesized. In thiscase, all possible combinations of pentamers using the amino acid basisset of Gly, Lys, Glu, Phe, and Ser were synthesized. These weresynthesized in 25 pools, each containing 125 different peptides. Thesynthesis was designed so that each pool contained the same aminoterminal amino acids and equimolar mixes of all 5 amino acids at theother 3 residues (e.g., GG-mix-mix-mix, GK-mix-mix-mix, SF-mix-mix-mix,etc. ). The synthesis was carried out using the methodology illustratedabove. FIGS. 11A and 11B show the amino acid analysis results for 2 ofthe 25 pools. The theoretical values for each amino acid based on theexpected composition of the pool are shown next to the values obtained.It can be seen that the actual amino acid composition of the poolsagrees closely with the theoretical, further demonstrating theusefulness of this method for synthesis of equimolar polypeptidemixtures.

It will be appreciated that the method is also applicable to other aminoacid residues, or suitable subunits, such as hydroxyproline,n-aminoisobutyric acid, sarcosine, citrulline, cysteic acid,t-butylglycine, t-butylalanine, phenylglycine, cyclohexylalanine,8-alanine, 4-aminobutyric acid, and the like, as well as D forms ofamino acids. It will also be appreciated that the number of poolscreated at subunit addition cycle can be varied. Thus, although 20 poolsmight be created for the first step reaction, the particle mixture amybe divided into only 5 fractions for the second subunit addition, given20 different amino acid variations at position 2 and 5 at position 3Itwill be understood that the apparatus may be provided with more than 20reaction vessels, if needed to accommodate more than 20 differentmonomers, e.g., all L- and D-amino acids.

Isolation of full-length peptides can be further aided by utilizing afinal amino acyl residue which is blocked with a selected group such astBoc-biotin, which allows polypeptide isolation by affinitychromatography on an avidin or streptavidin solid support. The use ofsuch an affinity group in the final position ensures isolation offull-sequence peptides.

The method of the invention results in a complex mixture ofdifferent-sequence peptides. From this mixture, one or more peptideshaving a desired activity are selected. Typically, the desired activityis a given binding affinity for a receptor, such as an immunoglobulin,glycolipid, receptor protein, or enzyme. The peptides can be screenedfor the desired binding activity conventionally, e.g., by affinitychromatography in which the receptor is coupled to a solid support. Herethe peptide mixture is contacted with the affinity support, andnon-bound peptides removed by washing. The bound peptides are thenreleased from the support by washing with high salt or other denaturantseffective to disrupt the peptide-receptor binding.

Alternatively, peptides which are substrates for enzymes such asprotease, can be separated from non-substrate peptides in the mixture onthe basis of the size of cleavage products, or release of affinitylabels from the peptides, or the like.

After isolation of peptides with desired binding activity, it may befurther desirable to purify selected peptides, e.g., by HPLC. If largesubpopulations are obtained by the screening, further screening athigher stringency may be useful. Thus, for example, if a mixture ofpeptides binding to a given antibody or receptor contains fifty or somembers, salt concentration or pH can be adjusted to dissociate all butthe most tightly bound members, or the natural substrate can be used toprovide competition binding.

Standard methods of analysis can be used to obtain the informationneeded to identify the particular peptide(s) recovered, includingmolecular weight, amino acid composition, and amino acid sequence.

The method can be used for the synthesis and selection of antigenicpolypeptides useful as diagnostic reagents or vaccines. In addition thepeptides may be selected on the basis of their activity as peptidehormones, peptide antibiotics, or peptides with other therapeuticindications, according to their ability to bind to selected receptors,or to produce other selectable physiological effects which can beobserved in a screening procedure.

IIIC. Polynucleotide Synthesis Methods

The method of the invention is also useful for synthesizingdifferent-sequence polynucleotides, typically single-stranded DNA.General solid-phase reagents, protecting and deprotecting strategies,and coupling reaction reagents may be conventional. Typically, forexample, controlled pore glass particles will be derivatized with asingle 5'-OH protected single polynucleotide or trinucleotide. At eachsubunit addition cycle, the particles will first be reacted withdichloracetic acid, to deprotect the terminal nucleotide subunit, thenwashed to remove deprotection reagent, and reacted with a freephosphoramidite-activated 5'-OH protected nucleotide subunit, underconditions which favor substantially complete coupling of the subunitsof the particle-bound, deprotected terminal subunit.

The subunits used in each coupling may be single nucleotides, orsubunits formed of two or more defined-sequence oligonucleotides. In onepreferred embodiment described below, the subunits are trinucleotidescorresponding to selected codons, such as codons for each of 20 naturalL-amino acids. In this embodiment, each subunit addition cycle iseffective to add a three-nucleotide codon to the polymer. Thus, forexample, to prepare a mixture of polynucleotides coding for a randomsequence of R-residue peptides, the synthesis method would require R-1subunit additions, with each of 20 different trinucleotide codonsubunits being added to a particle mixture at each cycle.

In one general application, different-sequence oligonucleotides areprepared for use as degenerate primers for polymerase chain reaction(PCR) amplification of DNA. In a typical application, a protein havingregions of known amino acid sequences is available, and it is desired toisolate and clone a genomic or cDNA fragment corresponding to (encoding)the protein.

The PCR method requires two sets of degenerate primers corresponding tospaced known-sequence regions of the protein. Each set is generated, inaccordance with the invention, by preparing a resin particlesderivatized with each of the 1-6 codons for the N-terminal amino acid inthe selected known-sequence region. The particles are mixed, thendistributed into 1-6 separate reaction vessels, depending on the numberof degenerate codons of the next-in amino acid, and each mixture is thenreacted with the 1-6 codons of this next-in codon, under conditions inwhich each codon subunit addition is substantially complete. Theparticles from these vessels, when combined contain all of the 1-16possible codon sequence for the first two N-terminal amino acids in theselected known-sequence region of the protein.

The procedure is repeated, with mixing and redistributing the particlemixture into 1-6 reaction vessels with each subunit (codon) additioncycle, until the desired-length primer set is produced. Typically, atleast about 12-21 nucleotides (3-6 cycles) are required for an effectivePCR primer set.

A second general application of the method for synthesizingdifferent-sequence polynucleotides is illustrated in FIG. 12. The aim ofthis method is to produce, isolate and clone a polynucleotide sequencewhich encodes a peptide having a desired activity, such as a selectedbinding activity. As a first step, the method of the invention is usedto generate a mixture of polynucleotides encoding all (or at least alarge number of) possible coding sequences of a peptide having a givensize, e.g., 5-10 amino acid the residue polynucleotide synthesis followsthe general approach outlined at the top of FIG. 12. Resin particles,indicated by solid squares, are prepared conventionally with the 5'sequence C TCT CAC TCC (S₅,). The resin is distributed to each of 20reaction vessels where coupling to each of the 20 possible L-amino acidscodons, such as trinucleotide GCA codon for alanine, AGA trinucleotidecodon for arginine, and so on, is carried out. The particles from the 20vessels are mixed and redistributed to 20 vessels, and the codonaddition cycle is repeated. The mix and redistribute cycle is repeated atotal of N times, producing a total of 20" different sequences, asindicated.

After the Nth mixed-codon cycle, the resin is combined and furthertreated to place the sequence GGC GGC ACT, GTT, GAA, AGT, TGT-3'(indicated by 5") on each of the different-sequence polymers.

The polymers are released from the particles, annealed with suitable3'-end and 5'-end oligonucleotides, and introduced into the StiI site ofvector fUSE5 replicative form phage, as has been described (Cwirla).This construction places the random-sequence polynucleotides in theregion coding for the N terminus of the pIII adsorption protein of fdphage. The phage are grown in a bacterial host, isolated, and thenscreened for binding activity to a selected receptor by an affinitytechnique known as panning (Parmley, Scott). The phage selected by thismethod thus have a coding sequence which encodes a peptide havingbinding affinity for the screening receptor. These phage may be furtherrescreened and purified, to obtain the desired coding sequence(indicated by xxxxx in FIG. 12). This coding sequence can be sequencedto determine the desired coding sequence.

Once the coding sequence is known, the corresponding-sequencepolypeptide can be produced by conventional solid-phase methods, or thesequence can be employed in a conventional expression system forrecombinant production of the protein.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated how the objects and featuresof the invention are met. The mixed-particle method for biopolymerallows for synthesis of very large numbers of biopolymers, insubstantially equimolar amounts, with relatively few subunit additionsteps. Further, subunit variation may be generated selectively atdifferent polymer positions, with some positions containing a singlesubunit, and other positions containing 2 to 20 or more differentsubunits.

The method is readily adapted to automated synthesis, employing theapparatus of the invention. In particular, once biopolymer sequencevariation is specified initially to a control unit, the apparatus canfunction in a completely automated fashion to produce the desiredbiopolymer mixture.

Although the invention has been described with respect to particularpolypeptide and polynucleotide methods and applications, it will beappreciated that various modifications of the methods and additionalapplications are possible without departing from the invention.

It is claimed:
 1. Apparatus for use in synthesizing different-sequencebiopolymers by sequential addition of biopolymer subunits to immobilizedsubunits carried on solid phase particles in a particle suspension, saidapparatus comprising, in operative condition,(a) a mixing vessel, (b)multiple reaction vessels, (c) reagent vessels, (d) transfer means fordistributing a selected volume of particle suspension in the mixingvessel to each of the reaction vessels, for transferring a particlesuspension from each reaction vessel to the mixing vessel, and fortransferring selected reagents from the reagent vessels to the reactionvessels, (e) means for coupling a selected free subunit to the terminal,particle bound subunits in each of the reaction vessels, and (f) controlmeans for controlling the transfer means and coupling means for (1)distributing a mixed particle suspension in the mixing vessel toselected reaction vessels, (2) coupling a selected subunit to terminalparticle-bound subunits in each reaction vessels, and (3) transferringthe particle suspensions in the reaction vessels to the mixing vessel.2. The apparatus of claim 1, for use in combination with a vacuumsource, wherein each of said reaction vessels has a filter which definesa lower vessel surface which is adapted to retain the solid phase ofsuch particle suspension when a vacuum is applied to the filter, andsaid coupling means includes valve means connecting the filter in eachof said vessels to such vacuum source, positionable between a closedposition, in which the vessels are isolated from the vacuum source, andan open position in which the valve means communicates the vessels inthe set with the vacuum source, and said control means is operable toactivate the valve means from its closed to its open positions.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, for use in combination with a source of compressedgas, wherein said valve means also connects each reaction vessel filterwith such compressed-gas source, and is positionable to a second openposition at which the valve means communicates each reaction vessel withthe compressed-gas source, to produce mixing by bubbling within thevessels, and said control means is operable to activate the valve meansto its second open position.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein saidreaction vessels include multiple sets of vessels, and said valve meansincludes, for each such set, a solenoid valve connecting the vessels ineach set to such vacuum and gas sources.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4,which further includes a set of vessels which are each connected to thevacuum and gas sources by individual solenoid valves, such that anyselected number of vessels in the apparatus can be operated in a mode inwhich they are connected to valves which can be operated in such openpositions, and the remaining vessels in the apparatus are connected tovalves which can be operated exclusively in closed positions.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 4, wherein the valve means additionally includes, foreach set of vessels, a manifold connected to said valve and a pluralityof tubes connecting the manifold to each vessel in the set, where thetubes extend above a maximum level in the vessels which is reached whenliquid is added to the vessels during operation of the apparatus inpolymer preparation.